Summary: Sage is an orphan who's just trying to survive. However, fate has other plans for Sage, who is recruited along with three other boys and given a daunting task: learn how to impersonate a long-lost prince -- or else. Sage and the other boys travel to a country estate where they spend their days learning everything from sword fighting to etiquette in hopes of being chosen to be the "false prince". But as the deadline for choosing the prince gets closer, the pressure mounts, and the stakes for all of the boys, especially Sage, get higher -- and deadlier ...

First line: If I had to do it all over again, I would not have chosen this life.

Cover thoughts: I think this is a really cool cover that hints at the story inside. It's simple but striking.

What I liked: Sage. He's such a great character -- smart, sassy, sarcastic, cunning, and even cruel at times. Sage definitely gets all of the best lines in the book, and you always wonder what angle he's playing. I also like courtly intrigue plots like this one. There are also some interesting secondary characters, some of which do some unexpected things.

Other thoughts: There's a twist in the story that I saw coming pretty early on. Also, most of the book takes place at a country estate where the boys are being tutored, and I felt like the action dragged a bit toward the end of their stay at the estate. As a result, the ending and all the events that happen in the last few chapters felt a bit rushed. But really, these are just minor quibbles, as I liked the book very much.

Overall: A very entertaining book that should appeal to both epic fantasy and young adult fans.

Would I read this author again: Yes. I'm looking forward to the other books in the series.

Princess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George is a young adult epic fantasy book.

Galen is a soldier coming home from war and searching for his mPrincess of the Midnight Ball by Jessica Day George is a young adult epic fantasy book.

Galen is a soldier coming home from war and searching for his mother's family when he meets an old woman. Galen is kind to the old woman, who gives him several gifts. Galen travels on to the city, finds his family, and is soon working in the palace gardens, where he meets Princess Rose and her eleven sisters. Galen is enchanted by Rose, but the princesses seem to be under some sort of curse since their shoes are worn through every morning but no one ever sees them leave the palace. Galen decides to get to the bottom of the mystery and finds himself in a strange world full of magic and promises ...

I really enjoy fairy tale retellings, and this book is a take on The Twelve Dancing Princesses fairy tale.

Galen and Rose are both likable characters, especially Galen, who has been through so much during the war. I also sympathized with Rose, who is desperate to free her sisters and herself from a terrible bargain their mother made but just doesn't know to do it. Also, the writing was lovely and descriptive and definitely gives the story a fairy tale feel.

One of the things I liked most about the book was the fact that Galen was an avid knitter. It was a skill he picked up during the war, since he often had to knit socks for himself. George ties that into the story really well, and Galen's knitting is one of the things that ends up saving everyone in the end.

However, the first half of the book is a little slow, and the action and adventure don't really kick into high gear until Galen decides to help Rose and the other princesses. I would have liked a little less set-up in the story and more scenes after Galen discovers what Rose and her sisters are hiding.

Overall, this is an entertaining fantasy book. If you like fairy tale retellings, check this one out....more

I'd seen a lot of positive reviews for this book, so I decided to try it. I have to say that I was disappointed. The premise is interesting enough --I'd seen a lot of positive reviews for this book, so I decided to try it. I have to say that I was disappointed. The premise is interesting enough -- the book follows, Felix, a powerful wizard, and Mildmay, a cat burglar, in the city of Melusine. Their stories start to intertwine after Felix's old master uses Felix's magic to weaken the city, driving the young wizard mad in the process. The book shifts between Felix's insane point of view and Mildmay's practical one. I thought Mildmay was a much more interesting, engaging character, especially since Felix alternates from being insane to being arrogant. If the book had just been told from Mildmay's point of view, I think I would have liked it better. If you like epic fantsy, you may want to give this one a try, but it wasn't for me....more

Lynch continues his Gentleman Bastards series with Red Seas Under Red Skies. In this one, conmen Locke and Jean set out to rob a casino and lead a creLynch continues his Gentleman Bastards series with Red Seas Under Red Skies. In this one, conmen Locke and Jean set out to rob a casino and lead a crew of pirates along the way. Locke and Jean are likable characters who are at their best when they're planning their next con. The book does drag a little, especially when it comes to the scenes at sea, but the ending makes up for it. Not as good as the first book, The Lies of Locke Lamora, but still a solid fantasy read....more

Twilight's Dawn by Anne Bishop is a novella collection set in her popular Black Jewels dark fantasy universe. Warning: There are some spoilers in thisTwilight's Dawn by Anne Bishop is a novella collection set in her popular Black Jewels dark fantasy universe. Warning: There are some spoilers in this review.

In Winsol Gifts, Daemon Sadi and his friends and family get ready for a Christmas-like celebration, while in Shades of Honor, Daemon's brother, Lucivar Yaslana, is threatened by a traitor among his men and finds himself caught up in a power struggle and political intrigue.

In Family, Daemon, Lucivar, and their friends and family help track down a vicious killer who's after a young boy, while in The High Lord's Daughter, Daemon moves on after a personal tragedy and finally becomes a father.

I hadn't read Bishop before, but one of my friends loves the Black Jewels books, so I decided to try her. Of course, I would have gotten more out of the book if I'd read the others in the series, but Bishop really sucks you in with her writing. I thought the world building was really interesting, especially how she used the jewels to denote different magic/power levels among the various characters. I can see why the series is so popular.

I liked the Shades of Honor story the best. It had the most action and lets the reader see the different aspects/peoples/power struggles in the Black Jewels world. I thought the Family story was the weakest -- the killer was caught far too easily to make for an entertaining read.

Out of all the stories, Surreal quickly emerged as my favorite character since she was just so tough and sassy, even when dealing with Daemon and Lucivar, who are so powerful that they make everyone else quake with fear. I'd love to read more about Surreal.

However, it did take me a while to figure out who was who since it seems like so many of the characters have more than one name/title. Also, Daemon, Lucivar, and their friends and family were all so powerful, they easily overcame any conflict that was put in their path. I would have liked to have seen them struggle some more.

Spoiler time: I've seen a couple of reviews talking about the death of a major character in the last story and what happens after that. A lot of folks don't like what Bishop did with the character/story. Like I said, I hadn't read any of the books before, so I wasn't as invested in the characters like I would have been if I had read the other books. But if I had read the other books, I think I would have been disappointed by the happily ever after that two characters have that is taken away, instead of just stopping the story at the happily ever after. So be warned about this twist.

Overall, this was an interesting story collection and has interested me in reading more books by Bishop....more

After being defeated by his nemesis, Morthul, the Charnal King, hatches a plan which requires the fThe Goblin Corps by Ari Marmell is an epic fantasy.

After being defeated by his nemesis, Morthul, the Charnal King, hatches a plan which requires the formation of a Demon Squad, or group of goblins. Among the creatures recruited is Craeosh, an orc; Katim, a troll; and Gork, a kobold. None of the creatures trusts or gets along with the others, but nobody says no to the Charnal King. Like it or not, the goblins are stuck with each other so they try to make the best of a bad situation — and all the others they soon find themselves in …

A friend loaned me this book, and I’m glad he did. It’s a fun twist on your usual epic fantasy book because the monsters are the heroes in this story — as much as monsters who would as soon kill as look at each other can be heroes. But hey, a goblin’s gotta do what a goblin’s gotta do.

In many ways, this book reads like a Dungeons & Dragons adventure. The goblins are assigned to search for an ancient treasure and have to battle monsters (and each other) along the way. Then, they return to the Charnal King to get their next assignment and do the same thing all over again.

But the D&D feel was also one negative thing about the book because the battles and danger all started to run together after a while. So did all the goblins plotting against each other all the time. However, Marmell does tie the seemingly unrelated plot threads together in the end, and you realize just how clever the Charnal King is.

Marmell also doesn’t shy away from making the monsters, well, monsters. There are a lot of visceral descriptions about killing and eating things (including humans). Many were funny, but some had a definite ick factor.

Overall, this was an enjoyable fantasy. If you like stories where the bad guys are (sort of) the good guys, then check this one out....more

Dark Jenny by Alex Bledsoe is the third book in his epic fantasy series about sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse.

In this one, Eddie recalls an adventure he hDark Jenny by Alex Bledsoe is the third book in his epic fantasy series about sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse.

In this one, Eddie recalls an adventure he had several years ago. Eddie is at court spying on a cheating husband when a Knight of the Double Tarn is murdered by eating a poisoned apple right in front of him. What follows from there is a spin on Arthurian legend, when Queen Jennifer is accused of murdering the knight, and her husband, King Marcus Drake, asks Eddie to prove her innocence and find the real killer. Eddie doesn't have much of a choice, since it's either find the killer or take the fall for the murder, so he sets out to get to the bottom of things. Only, there's more than one mystery to solve here -- and a lot of secrets that Jennifer, Marcus, and the rest of the Knights don't want to be discovered ...

I really like this series, which is a great blend of epic fantasy and detective noir fiction, and Bledsoe once again spins a smart tale that's full of twists and turns. Eddie is a great character, and I always enjoy reading his world-weary voice and seeing the scrapes that he gets himself into and out of.

However, this book didn't work for me as well as the others in the series have, especially the first book, The Sword-Edged Blonde, which is really great. I think part of it has to do with the fact that the book is so heavily focused on Arthurian legend, which isn't my favorite legend to read about. It's just never appealed to me all that much. Also, I felt like I could see a lot of the twists and secrets coming because it was Arthurian legend. I think that undercut some of the big reveals at the end. Plus, the fact that Eddie is telling this story and looking back on things also undermined the immediacy and the tension of the story for me a bit.

Overall, though, this is a cool book, especially if you like epic fantasy with a twist....more

Another enjoyable entry in Alex Bledsoe's series about Eddie LaCrosse, a sword jockey for hire (think private investigator). Epic fantasy meets detectAnother enjoyable entry in Alex Bledsoe's series about Eddie LaCrosse, a sword jockey for hire (think private investigator). Epic fantasy meets detective noir in this story about dragon worshipers, mobsters, a murdered woman, and more. Not quite as good as the first book in the series, The Sword-Edged Blonde, but still a very entertaining read, especially for those looking for something a little different in the fantasy field....more